The Hindu : New Delhi News : Parliament approves Karnataka Budget

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Parliament approves Karnataka Budget

Special Correspondent

BJP responsible for situation in State: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Monday approved the Karnataka Budget for 2008-09, with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram attacking the BJP in the Rajya Sabha for creating instability in the State through its haste for power. The Lok Sabha has already passed the Budget.

Replying to the discussion, Mr. Chidambaram held the BJP responsible for the situation in Karnataka and said its “unholy” alliance with the Janata Dal (S) led to the instability in the State.

Instability

Responding to the charge of BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu that the Government was trying to postpone elections in the State by proposing a vote on account for six months, Mr. Chidambaram said it was being done because of the instability created in Karnataka by two parties fighting for power. “Who muddied the waters in Karnataka? Who fished in troubled waters and who brought about the collapse of the government?” he asked.

Mr. Chidambaram said there was a 12 per cent increase in the Budget.

Allocation

The planned allocation was 21 per cent higher in 2008-09. He said there was revenue surplus and fiscal space so that there would be freedom to spend on projects. “No outlay is less than the revised estimates.” On the farm loan waiver scheme, he said he was able to do it because the fiscal deficit was less than three per cent. Of the Rs. 60,000 crore, Rs. 40,000 crore would be spent between July and February, 2009, when the UPA Government would be in power.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Mr. Naidu charged the UPA with bringing a vote on account for six months with the “malafide intention” of postponing elections in the State.

“Why are you going against the spirit of the Constitution and democracy?” he asked.

According to him owing to the “better management” of the State’s economy by the previous BJP-Janata Dal (S) government, the revenue receipts had registered an increase of 13.31 per cent over Budget estimates.

Describing the farm loan waiver scheme as “too little, too late,” he said it was a desperate bid to woo the voters.

Infrastructure

Participating in the discussion, B.K. Hariprasad (Congress) sought the Centre’s intervention in improving infrastructure in the State.

At least one medical research institute on the lines of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences should be set up in Bangalore, he said.

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